Police Should Be Fair in Handling Misunderstanding at Tolikara

Jayapura, Jubi – An academic from Cenderawasih University, Marianus Yaung, urged the Papua Police to be fair in handling the conflict at Karubaga, Tolikara, two weeks ago.

“I ask the Papua Police to investigate the witnesses both from the police and civilians, as well as to question GIDI leaders and highly respect the professionalism and principle of justice for every party. Do not make the impression there’s discrimination against GIDI leaders,” Yaung said when the Coalition of Civil Society for Peace in Tanah Papua held the press conference at Kingmi Church Synod Office in Jayapura City on Thursday (30/7/2015).

According to him, those who are found guilty should be punished according to the Law and the shooting perpetrator against 12 civilians also must be revealed. He further said at that time civilians had no weapon.
“It’s hard to find the projectile on the scene couldn’t be a reason. The Papua Police must uphold the principle of justice for both sides, Muslims and Christians. People in Papua are able to solve their own problem. They have local wisdoms to solve it,” he said.

At the same place, the Chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) Kota Jayapura, Victor Mambor said he highlighted more to media coverage when the misunderstanding was occurred in Tolikara.
“Tolikara incident became a lesson. At that time, before doing clarification, media has published the news that likely triggered this misunderstanding to be a national issue,” said Mambor.

Further, Mambor who is also the editor in chief of tabloidjubi.com and Koran Jubi also regretted the police’s act broadcasting the short message to the press and likely triggered the incident as a national issue.
“At the end, we are all getting the impact. The police shouldn’t too rush to send the short message without verification. The sort message was forwarded from Papua Police Spokesperson, and we don’t know what the purpose is,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)